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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Conor MacRae's whole life revolves around hockey. Both he and his dad make sacrifices so that Conor can play on an elite hockey team. Even though almost every waking minute involves hockey, loves everything about it. When his dog, Sinbad gets sick with cancer, Conor has to choose between payments to the vet for chemotherapy sessions or hockey lessons.

Once Conor steps back from everyday lessons, he has time to notice things he hasn't noticed before like his dad's crying and somber moods and even the lack time with his mother's Japanese family. Maybe, just maybe he the hockey rink isn't the only place Conor belongs.

The elite athlete will relate to the time spent perfecting the sport but the heart of the story lies with the relationship outside of the rink.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Get ready for the excitement, for the stomping of feet, the hooting and hollering and the for clucking. Wait! What do the rules say again?

On Wednesday, Farmer Brown gets an invitation to be a guest at Dinklemeyer Elementary School and to "Bring the animals too." He rushes to get the animals ready. With all of the excitement, the cows moo, the chickens cluck, and the pigs oink but Farmer Brown explains that school is serious and quiet. The animals must obey the rules. Suddenly school doesn't sound so fun.

When the animals make it to school and the recess bell rings, things get a little wacky. While the silly story starts on a promising note, the ending falls a little flat. Somehow, I feel like I missed the punchline. A silly but quick read for those who enjoy the Click, Clack series.

Friday, November 9, 2018

"Dear Sister," so begins a series of letters written by an
older brother to his annoying sister. The letters follow the rocky start when
little sister comes home from the hospital to sweet overtures when big brother
leaves for college.

The brother grades his sister on whininess, annoyingness,
afraid of the darkness and refusal to eat lima beans. Readers will love the
humor of the brother’s candid reports and letters. Subtle changes in the
letters as the sister grows expose surprise feelings.

Careful attention to the simple handwriting and childlike sketches
by Joe Bluhm give additional clues to feelings the brother has toward his
sister and vice versa. Definitely worth spending time poring over the illustrations and comparing
them to written words. No boy should with a little sister should miss Alison
McGhee’s touching story, best described with three H’s: honesty, humor and
heartwarming.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Teddy never has a dull moment in his room with all of his cool toys ranging from hula hoops to fire trucks. One toy takes center stage as his all time favorite, Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of the Pacifica. Bren-Da has the best manners and the sickest fighting skills.

When Bren-Da's leg snaps off, Teddy tries to no avail to fix her. Instead, he leaves her wrapped in bandages and heads off to school. He returns to find Bren-Da missing. Seeing his dismay at losing his favorite toy, his superhero mom pulls out her special skills to go for the rescue. Can she do it?

A touching look and what it means to get past gender stereotypes. Great for those who aren't afraid of what others think.